There was a lot to talk about when the Phoenix Suns opened up their training camp earlier this week at NBA Media Day. The impending sale of the team by Robert Sarver was a major topic of discussion, but that was not all there was to discuss.
The team agreed with Jae Crowder when he asked to not report to camp as they are seeking out a trade partner to make a deal centered around the veteran. Looking at a diminished role this upcoming season, as the Suns want to play Cam Johnson more, Crowder requested to be traded.
Then, there is the Deandre Ayton situation. Ayton and the team had some tense negotiations last year when he was eligible for a rookie extension. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft was seeking a max contract and that was something ownership was unwilling to offer as they didn’t believe Ayton was worth it.
That led to him being a restricted free agent this offseason and he was part of plenty of trade rumors. He would eventually agree to the largest offer sheet in NBA history with the Indiana Pacers, signing a four-year, $133 million contract. Despite all of the hesitancy to offer him a max deal themselves, Phoenix quickly matched.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton & Phoenix Suns Updates
Ayton has to be the most unhappy person to ever land a $133 contract. He doesn’t seem like someone that wants to play in the desert any longer and it could be because of his relationship with head coach Monty Williams.
Ayton revealed that he and Williams haven’t talked at all since the game. He is referring to Game 7 of their second-round series against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2022 NBA Playoffs. There was a disagreement between the two on the bench that night as well and many people expected Ayton to be moving on this offseason.
Williams said that he hasn’t talked with a lot of people in the gym since the last game, but it feels different when it comes to Ayton.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton & Phoenix Suns Updates
January 15th is a date to keep an eye on when it comes to Ayton, as that is when he will be eligible to be traded. At this point, it seems like a move will eventually come that results in Ayton playing elsewhere.
